What Attracts Flies?

Flies in Homes

Many homeowners notice flies in their homes during late spring, summer, and fall months. The pests get inside for a number of reasons, but most enter to feed on trash, ripe produce, or moisture. Residents who know what attracts flies will have better luck with prevention.

In order to determine what attracts flies to your home, it is important to identify the species of pest you are encountering. Common house flies are attracted to decaying organic filth such as feces and rotting meat, whereas fruit flies seek sugary substances and feed more commonly on overripe fruit, spilled soda, and alcohol. Drain flies require moist climates and organic materials and will be attracted to drains where they will lay their eggs.

What Brings Flies Indoors?

These pests are common in unkept areas. Conditions that attract flies in and around homes include:

Garbage cans left uncovered.

Animal carcasses in the walls, attics, or elsewhere.

Manure or pet feces around yards.

Fermenting fruit on countertops.

Spilled soda and open containers of alcohol.

Scum at the bottom and coating the inside of drains.

Outdoor picnics with meat and sweets also bring flies to an area. Leaving doors and windows open during these events can lead to indoor infestations. Some species of flies such as cluster flies are attracted to structures during certain times of the year as these flies seek out a comfortable place to overwinter inside the home.

How to Prevent Flies

After determining what attracts flies, homeowners can make modifications to keep the pests from returning. Removing indoor and outdoor trash, keeping garbage containers clean and covered, and cleaning up pet feces regularly can reduce fly numbers. Throwing out rotting food and sanitizing the garbage disposal often also help with control. Ensuring tightly sealed windows and keeping doors closed when not in use is valuable to help prevent fly entry inside the home. This is very important if prevention of overwintering flies such as cluster flies is needed.

Residents may need pest professionals to figure out what attracts flies in your home and how to get rid of them. Contact the team at Orkin for removal.